I'm currently on the lookout for a new car after my amazing Peugeot 107 got written off the other week. I would get a like for like replacement, 107, Aygo or c1 but my brother who works for enterprise recommends the Hyundai i10, so opting for that. Cheap as chips to run.
Any Car suggestions?
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I've had a '02 Ford Focus TDCI since 2006 and I love it. In that time I've only had to replace the AC condenser, battery and glow plugs and a couple of Window motors. I'd say that's fairly reliable. It's still going but has some faults now, I'd get a petrol they are probably more reliable and you should be able to get a really nice one for 4K.
According to the BBC news yesterday everyone is buying new cars on cheap credit at the moment, so there should be some bargains about.
According to the BBC news yesterday everyone is buying new cars on cheap credit at the moment, so there should be some bargains about.
Originally Posted by LostFool:
“20 years of driving has taught me this: don't buy anything French or Italian.”
“20 years of driving has taught me this: don't buy anything French or Italian.”
Have to agree with you. They always said that if you buy either, you'll soon get on first name terms with your mechanic or auto electrician!
Originally Posted by LostFool:
“20 years of driving has taught me this: don't buy anything French or Italian.”
“20 years of driving has taught me this: don't buy anything French or Italian.”
I had a Peugeot 306 diesel for quite a while, fun to drive and cheap too but it was a peasants car basically. The glass didn't even have UV protection so I'd get sun burn going up the M3. I only scrapped it when a cat managed to get in and piss on the back seat ( no idea how ) . A lot of garages don't like working on French cars, they can be a little quirky.
Originally Posted by LostFool:
“20 years of driving has taught me this: don't buy anything French or Italian.”
“20 years of driving has taught me this: don't buy anything French or Italian.”
Yep, German or far eastern...the best
Originally Posted by srpsrp:
“I had a Peugeot 306 diesel for quite a while, fun to drive and cheap too but it was a peasants car basically. The glass didn't even have UV protection so I'd get sun burn going up the M3. I only scrapped it when a cat managed to get in and piss on the back seat ( no idea how ) . A lot of garages don't like working on French cars, they can be a little quirky.”
“I had a Peugeot 306 diesel for quite a while, fun to drive and cheap too but it was a peasants car basically. The glass didn't even have UV protection so I'd get sun burn going up the M3. I only scrapped it when a cat managed to get in and piss on the back seat ( no idea how ) . A lot of garages don't like working on French cars, they can be a little quirky.”
My local garage loved working on my Megane as they made a fortune out of it. There was always something going wrong with the electrics. You had to say a little prayer when you turned the ignition key as the starting was so temperamental, the electric windows had a life of their own and the window wipers would often stop working in heavy rain.
I've now had a Ford Focus for 6 years. It may not be as much fun to drive but it is 100% reliable, never goes wrong and sails through every MOT and service with the minimum amount of work required.
Originally Posted by Jimmy Connors:
“Weren't the Sunnys on the whole built in Japan? No wonder they were reliable. My Dad had a Datsun Cherry, that went on and one and never wanted to stop.
The K12 Micra's electrical problems with the boot switch is quite a well known problem. Nissan point blank refuse to even acknowledge it's happening.
...
Maybe the OH's Micra is a lemon, but a few others seem to be having similar electrical problems. The engine is bullet proof though.”
“Weren't the Sunnys on the whole built in Japan? No wonder they were reliable. My Dad had a Datsun Cherry, that went on and one and never wanted to stop.
The K12 Micra's electrical problems with the boot switch is quite a well known problem. Nissan point blank refuse to even acknowledge it's happening.
... Maybe the OH's Micra is a lemon, but a few others seem to be having similar electrical problems. The engine is bullet proof though.”
I know 3 people with a K12 micra, including myself (mine is now 12 years old), I cant fault it, except that I fear the seals are failing a bit as the car is often wet with condensation inside but someone drove into the back of me when I hadnt had it long and I wonder if the repairs to the back affected this.
However, in terms of engine, it cant be faulted, Ive never had a problem with electrics personally and as far as I know they're not known for this.
I heard that the 2003 K12 manual versions had a problem with their cam or timing belt (dont ask me what that is).
I will probably try to keep mine for another year as we have so much to do to the house but when I replace it, its another K12 for me, I love it.
I have a Yaris, good little car. It's now 10 years old and I only had to replaced the clutch and exhaust last year.
My punto well that was another story. Never ever buyba punto.
My punto well that was another story. Never ever buyba punto.
I saw a T reg (late 90s) Nissan micra today.....the original postman pat car. The red paint def peeling on it, but it was still in use.
I know there's a slightly newer one round the road from me, that would be about a 2000 plate - before the next shape was released. That car is looking tatty with 3 after market wheel covers on it, but it's in use everyday.
I know there's a slightly newer one round the road from me, that would be about a 2000 plate - before the next shape was released. That car is looking tatty with 3 after market wheel covers on it, but it's in use everyday.
Originally Posted by tiacat:
“I know 3 people with a K12 micra, including myself (mine is now 12 years old), I cant fault it, except that I fear the seals are failing a bit as the car is often wet with condensation inside but someone drove into the back of me when I hadnt had it long and I wonder if the repairs to the back affected this.
However, in terms of engine, it cant be faulted, Ive never had a problem with electrics personally and as far as I know they're not known for this.
I heard that the 2003 K12 manual versions had a problem with their cam or timing belt (dont ask me what that is).
I will probably try to keep mine for another year as we have so much to do to the house but when I replace it, its another K12 for me, I love it.”
“I know 3 people with a K12 micra, including myself (mine is now 12 years old), I cant fault it, except that I fear the seals are failing a bit as the car is often wet with condensation inside but someone drove into the back of me when I hadnt had it long and I wonder if the repairs to the back affected this.
However, in terms of engine, it cant be faulted, Ive never had a problem with electrics personally and as far as I know they're not known for this.
I heard that the 2003 K12 manual versions had a problem with their cam or timing belt (dont ask me what that is).
I will probably try to keep mine for another year as we have so much to do to the house but when I replace it, its another K12 for me, I love it.”
The rear boot switch is a known problem. My OH's was a right pain to sort out. I have spoken to many owners who have experienced the same trouble. There's a VIN range of affected K12s. Nissan UK have sorted any car within that range via a recall, but my OH's wasn't in that VIN range so we (meaning me) had to sort it out. I found a guy who sorted a solution to the problem, and his solution was the only one that worked - bar spending a fortune on the same old designed switch from Nissan UK. http://www.3dlabellingsystems.com/pa...ot_switch.html
Hopefully yours will be okay. They're nice cars (I drove it over 150 miles today) and as I said the engine never misses a beat. But it's had so many annoying electrical niggles that I have been told are down to crappy Renault components. OH loves it though, and she refuses to change it. Bet she'd change her mind if she were the one having to sort out the problems.
http://www.howtomendit.com/answers.php?id=165600
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/How-i...on1131420.html
Originally Posted by David (2):
“I saw a T reg (late 90s) Nissan micra today.....the original postman pat car. The red paint def peeling on it, but it was still in use.
I know there's a slightly newer one round the road from me, that would be about a 2000 plate - before the next shape was released. That car is looking tatty with 3 after market wheel covers on it, but it's in use everyday.”
“I saw a T reg (late 90s) Nissan micra today.....the original postman pat car. The red paint def peeling on it, but it was still in use.
I know there's a slightly newer one round the road from me, that would be about a 2000 plate - before the next shape was released. That car is looking tatty with 3 after market wheel covers on it, but it's in use everyday.”
This is turning into a Micra thread, sorry OP.
As you mentioned the late 90s Mica, my sister has a 1999 Micra. She's had it from new. She treats it like crap, hardly ever services it. The only maintenance she does to it are tyres and brakes. Nothing else goes wrong on it. She just wants it to pack up so she can get a new car but it just keeps on going and going. No matter how much it's abused it never even gets advisories at MOT time. Everything on it still works perfectly. Even the AC is freezing cold.
It's worth nothing now. She thought a wheel bearing had gone last year so was going to scrap it. But it turned out she had a plastic bag tangled up around the exhaust and flapping about underneath. Removed, and it's back to its reliable self again.
Great little cars.
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